The Bahraini economy is expected to grow at a robust four percent this year, according to a study by an economic consultancy firm, quoted by the Gulf Daily.

The country's economy has grown healthily in the last three years, even when other economies of the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) have fared poorly, says the study by Gulf Global Economic Consultancy (GGC).

"The priority given by Bahrain's leadership to economic development and continuously improving per capita income, has put the country on a par with advanced economies," said GGC chairman, Hussain Al Mahdi.

The study, said the Daily, shows that, in 1998, Bahrain's economy grew at a robust 4.8 percent, as compared to a negative growth of 4 percent for the other GCC states.

The Emirati economy, said the study, posted a negative growth of 7 percent that year, Kuwait 1.8 percent, Saudi Arabia 1.6 percent, while Oman posted positive growth of 2.7 percent, al-Mahdi said, citing figures from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCAW) -- Albawaba.com